Client Engagement through Edutainment
By Carla Adams, BA, MDiv, Employment Specialist, BHG Denver
Client engagement is one of the most crucial factors in the therapeutic process. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), “the outcome of psychotherapy is significantly dependent on the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the client.” A poor therapeutic alliance can be a barrier to effective treatment.
What is edutainment?
We know that talking our clients into a trance is not mindful meditation. Yet, with heavy caseloads, it can be easy to fall into didactic practices. One technique for increasing client engagement is to incorporate educational entertainment or ‘edutainment’ as part of the therapeutic process. Popularized in the 1970s as an education and public health strategy, edutainment combines multi-sensory fun with educational information to increase awareness, retention, and impact behavior.
Edutainment has been demonstrated to impact awareness, attitudes, and behavioral change. For example, edutainment can be an effective tool for working with individuals experiencing literacy and language barriers. Storytelling, the oldest form of edutainment, has long been a tool used by educators and therapists to affect change. Music and art therapy, also forms of edutainment, have demonstrated effectiveness across a wide range of physical and mental health issues, including the development and harmonization of all personal abilities of children with special needs which contributes to their social integration. Virtual reality therapy has been used to help stroke patients regain muscle control, to treat other disorders such as body dysmorphia, as exposure therapy to reduce phobias, and to improve social skills in those diagnosed with autism.
The powerful reach of edutainment on social media
Although traditional forms of edutainment include storytelling, videos and games have been part of public health initiatives for decades, the landscape of edutainment has changed with the advent of social media. This is particularly important in working with younger generations. Studies by the Pew Institute show that 84% of young US adults (aged 18-29) are active on social media. YouTube is the most popular social media channel for millennials and Gen Z. TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform, and young adults often use ‘Dr. Google’ and YouTube for mental health resources before reaching out for professional assistance. TikTok, which launched merely five years ago, has become a common way for counselors to increase their engagement on mental health issues.
Explore ways to have fun, connect with clients
Although we walk a fine ethical line when using social media, it can provide a treasure trove of resources for quick and easy client engagement. Have you watched a well-informed video recently that concisely addresses an issue that has been expressed by a client? Consider showing the video clip to your client during a session to gain their perspective and generate dialogue. Did one of your client’s favorite bands produce a song that has positive, healing lyrics? Comment on it in a text and watch how your client responds.
Discovering new ways to incorporate edutainment strategies into the therapeutic mix may increase client engagement and encourage strong therapeutic alliances. Fun experiences increase levels of dopamine, endorphins, and oxygen – all things that promote learning and well-being. It’s time to think about all the ways we can have fun with our clients.
